204 SOME SAXON SAINTS OF WIMBORNE. 



they were not altogether freed from national faults and char- 

 acteristics. Probably, then, it was for disciplinary reasons that 

 Anglo-Saxon Princesses, whom their fellow countrymen were 

 accustomed to follow, were so often chosen as the Superiors of 

 these great Communities. But, in addition to the Abbess, 

 there would be other women to whom various offices would 

 be assigned, and who would assist in the care of the family. 

 Thus we read of the provost (praeposita), the dean (decana), 

 the mistress of the novices to whom the charge of those under 

 training for the religious life was committed, and the portress 

 who had the care of the keys, and was charged to close the 

 Church after compline and to ring the bell for matins. St. 

 Lioba tells various tales about what went on at the monastery 

 at Wimborne during her time. 



A novice mistress,* who had also held the offices of provost 

 and of dean, made herself very unpopular amongst the 

 young people by her extreme severity. She died ; but her 

 death evoked no sorrow amongst the novices and the younger 

 nuns. No sooner had she been buried than they hastened to 

 the cemetery, kicked away the soil, and danced upon her 

 grave. So that, instead of there being as usual a mound of 

 earth to mark the spot, the freshly filled in soil was trodden 

 down to a depth of six inches below the level of the ground 

 around. Tetta called the culprits before her, reproved them 

 for their cruelty and thoughtlessness, and made them promise 

 to pray for the soul of the deceased sister. By way of penance 

 for their wrong-doing she imposed upon them a three days' 

 fast, which they were to spend in watching and in prayer. 

 When the three days had come to an end the whole congre- 

 gation entered the church chanting a Litany, and the Abbess 

 prostrated herself before the altar and prayed for the soul of 

 the departed one. At the moment when she had finished her 

 prayer, continues the chronicler, the earth rose in the grave 

 until it reached the level of the ground. 



* Acta Sanctorum, Ord. S. Bened : Ssec. III. Pt. 2, p. 248. 



